Flush out a culture of violence

Whoever inherits the presidency of the republic from Jacob Zuma will have to contend with a very unfortunate and sad phenomenon which has grown deep roots in our body politic: the lawless and violent nature of protests.

The cause of the protesters is often just and deserving of support. It’s the methods that are sometimes employed by elements of the demonstrators that leave much to be desired.

Take Coligny, Eldorado Park, and a protest by disgruntled workers in Richards Bay this week, for example. And Vuwani since last year. Property has been destroyed in these demonstrations while the protesters were demanding that authorities attend to their legitimate concerns.

Let's be clear: the people who take part in these protests are well within their rights to take to the streets and voice their outrage.

Where we differ with them is when property is destroyed in the cause of their struggle to get the attention of the authorities. It is true that it’s usually only a small group who engage in such unlawful behaviour.

Unfortunately the few tend to dominate the headlines and overshadow the peaceful behaviour of the majority.

The violent nature of some of these protests also tends to lose public sympathy for their cause, which, ironically, is the reason that they were organised in the first place.

Some protesters have argued that the reason they engage in wanton destruction of property is because they believe it’s the only way to get the attention of the authorities and for their concerns to be addressed.

Even if there was some truth in this assertion, we would argue that it would not justify the destruction of property and harm to fellow South Africans.

Our constitution, arguably the best in Africa, protects peaceful protest, a right many peoples of this continent can only dream of.

Sure, many of our officials and politicians are corrupt and incompetent. They often fail to live up to the promises they make, which results in mounting frustration, and leads to citizens taking to the streets.

That is our right and we should exercise it. But rights come with responsibilities, and destroying public property is senseless and just plain dumb.